Solatiri rode fast on her horse as she, Gandalf and Pippin rode toward Gondor. She looked over to Gandalf to see Pippin. He sat in front of Gandalf and laid against him as he slept through the ride. They had traveled for two days with no rest. They had to get to Minas Tirith as fast as they could.
"Gandalf, do you think I will be punished when Denethor sees me?" Solatiri asked as they rode through the night.
"I cannot predict what Denethor will do", Gandalf answered.
"He will be furious", she said. "I left with Boromir. Denethor despises me. What will he do when he sees I have returned and not his son?"
"You worry too much", Gandalf said. "We still have another day until we reach the city."
Solatiri sighed as she touched her belly.
"Fear not, my little one", she said. "Hopefully your grandfather will show mercy upon us."
They continued to ride through the wilderness throughout the night. By the time dawn came, they crossed the shallow river.
"We just passed into the realm of Gondor!" Gandalf announced.
Solatiri couldn't help but smile. Gondor…she had been away from home for far too long. The three of them rode past the mountains that shielded Minas Tirith. As they rode over the hill…there it was. Minas Tirith, the White City of Gondor. The city that was built from the mountain. It almost shined as the sun cast its light upon the city.
"Minas Tirith", Gondor said. "City of kings."
"Home…at last", Solatiri said.
"This is your home?" Pippin asked.
"Talk about it later", Gandalf said. "We must make haste."
The three of them rushed past the gates and entered the city, going through all seven levels of the Citadel. The soldiers from each level followed them wondering who they were and what business they had in Minas Tirith. When they made it to the top level, did their long journey come to an end.
Solatiri smiled as she looked around the courtyard. Nothing had changed in all the months she had been gone. The White Tree stood still not blossoming.
"It's the tree", Pippin said in in awe, remembering the vision he saw. "Gandalf, Gandalf!"
"Yes, the White Tree of Gondor", Gandalf answered. "The tree of the king."
"It has stood as long as anyone could remember", Solatiri said.
"Lord Denethor, however, is not the king. He is a steward only, a caretaker of the throne."
The three of them stopped before they reached the door leading to the throne room.
"Oh, dear", Solatiri frowned nervously.
"What is it?" Pippin asked.
"Listen carefully", Gandalf said looking at Pippin. "Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either. In fact…it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took."
Solatiri took a deep breath as they entered the throne room. The hall looked the same as before she left. In the room sat Denethor upon the steward's throne. He did not raise his head to look at them as they approached.
"Hail Denethor, son of Ecthelion, lord and steward of Gondor", Gandalf said.
Denethor still did not bother looking at them. Solatiri and Pippin noticed he held something in his hands that had his attention.
"I come with tidings in this dark hour and with counsel", Gandalf said.
"Perhaps you come to explain this", Denethor said showing the object in his hands.
Solatiri gasped as she laid eyes on it. It was the Horn of Gondor…the horn Boromir kept within his possession the last time she saw him.
"Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead", Denethor said tearfully.
Gandalf looked at the horn unable to speak. Tears came to Solatiri's eyes as she took a step toward Denethor.
"Boromir…"
"Why have you returned and not my son?" he asked with rage in his eyes.
"Boromir died to save us", Pippin said. "My kinsman and me. He fell defending us from many foes."
He knelt in front of Denethor showing respect.
"I offer you my service, such as it is…in payment of this debt."
"This is my first command to you", Denethor said not showing the least bit of gratitude or respect. "How did you and this Rohan wench escape and my son did not...so mighty a man as he was?"
"My lord", Solatiri said. "Yes, Boromir was mighty, but he and I stood no chance. We were outnumbered by hundreds of Uruk-hai…beasts from Isengard."
"Silence!" Denethor said raising his voice to her.
"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow", Pippin said. "Boromir was pierced by many."
Denethor looked at Pippin trying to comprehend the words he spoke.
"Get up", Gandalf told Pippin. "My lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep. As steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan. Light the beacons."
"You think you are wise, Mithrandir", Denethor said beginning to scowl. "Yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom."
Solatiri backed away as Denethor's voice began to rise to them.
"Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind?" he continued. "I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor. And with your right you'd seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan."
Solatiri looked at Gandalf worried. How did Denethor come to hear of Aragorn?
"Oh yes…word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And I will tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship."
"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, steward!" Gandalf replied.
Denethor stood up showing his rage.
"The rule of Gondor is mine, and no other's! And as for you, Rohan maiden…"
Solatiri looked at Denethor full of fear. He gave her an unpleasant smile as he looked at her.
"Word has also reached my ears…you carry a child within you. My son's child. I frown upon you…I despise you and you will hear this. I will not let you keep the only being left of Boromir from me. The minute the child comes into this world, I will demand you hand it over to me. The child of Boromir belongs here with me, not with scum like you."
Solatiri backed away with tears streaming down her face as she placed her hands on her belly. Pippin looked in horror at the way Denethor acted. He had never heard of such a thing. Gandalf frowned at Denethor as he turned away.
"Come", he said to Pippin and Solatiri.
"Gandalf, he cannot take my child", Solatiri cried. "It is all that I have left of Boromir.
"I will help you as much as I can", Gandalf said. "All has turned to vain ambition. He would even use his grief as a cloak. "
The three of them stepped outside looking toward Mordor.
"A thousand years this city has stood. Now at the whim of a madman, it will fall. And the White Tree of the king will never bloom again."
"Why are they still guarding it?" Pippin asked looking at the guards surrounding the tree.
"They guard it because they still have hope", Gandalf said. "A faint and fading hope that one day it will flower. That a king will come and this city will be as it once was…before it fell into decay."
"I hope I live long enough to see it happen", Solatiri said looking at it.
"The old wisdom borne out of the West was forsaken. Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living and counted the old names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls, musing on heraldry or in high, cold towers, asking questions of the stars. And so the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of kings failed. The White Tree withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men."
"I…I never heard the history of Gondor like that", Solatiri said looking down. "The power of Men has failed us."
Pippin looked toward the mountains that separated Mordor from Gondor in fear.
"Mordor."
"Yes, there it lies", Gandalf said. "This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow."
"A storm is coming", he said looking at the clouds.
"This is not the weather of the world. This is a device of Sauron's making. A broil of fume he sends ahead of his host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight so he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to war. When the Shadow of Mordor reaches this city…it will begin."
"Well", Pippin gulped. "Minas Tirith…very impressive. So where are we off to next?"
"Oh, it's too late for that, Peregrin. There's no leaving this city. Help must come to us."
"Have you already forgotten?" Solatiri added. "You offered your service to Denethor. Once you offer your service, the only things that can release you will be Denethor himself, or death."